Brass-instrument-practice device

ABSTRACT

A resonator chamber attachable to a brass instrument mouthpiece so as to buffer the buzzing sound produced by the brass instrument mouthpiece, the device comprising a barrel which is a singular part of generally bowl-shape with a central chamber that opens out upon one end of the barrel, the inner end of the chamber communicating with the terminal end of the brass instrument mouthpiece.

United States Patent Vale v m 1451 May 2, 1972 '-.[54] v BRASS-INSTRUMENT-PRACTICE DEVICE [72] Inventor: Raymond J. Vale, 6006 Forest Ledge, San

Antonio, Tex. 78240 [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1970' 1211 Appl. 1516.; 71,157

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[56] Relerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 352,814 11/1886 Foss ..'1a1/2so x 1,763,336 6ll930- -wilder; ..s4/3s7 2,5 5,411 7/1950 LaVelle ..s4/39s Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant-Examiner-John Gonzales [57] ABSTRACT A resonator chamber attachable to a brass instrument mouthpiece so as to bufi'er the buzzing sound produced by the brass instrument mouthpiece, the device comprising'a barrel which is a singular part of generally bowl-shape with a central chamber that opens out upon one end of the barrel, the inner end of the chamber communicating with the terminal end of the brass instrument mouthpiece. r a

' 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,489

INVEN '1 ()R,

RA YMO/VD J. VALE BRASS-lNSTRUMENT-PRACI'ICE DEVICE This invention relates generally to musical instruments accessories.

tice buzzing barrel wherein when the mouthpiece is attached thereto and the buzzing sound produced, the resistance provided by the buffer-barrel givesthe player the feeling and the I tendency of giving the musician the sensation of actually blowing into the musical instrument.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a practice buzzing barrel which accordingly is similar to a drum practice pad, and which accordingly helps to prepare and build a good emboucher, enhance the tone quality, help loosen the tongue and provide an easy means of practicing the buzzing sound coupled with the diaphragm control needed to play a brass or other wind instrument without the actual use of the musical instrument.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a practice buzzing barrel which is particularly practical for use as a beginner teaching tool, and as a means for keeping the emboucher and diaphragm in shape, the practice buzzing barrel accordingly serving as calisthenics to the brass player.

' Other objects of the present invention are to provide a practice buzzing barrel, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation side view shown partly'in cross-section, and illustrated assembled with a brass instrument mouthpiece,

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, the mouthpiece being indicated in phantom lines, and

FIG. 3 is an elevational front view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a practice buzzing barrel according to the present invention wherein there is a one-piece member 11 which is readily attachable to a brass instrument mouthpiece 12.

The one-piece member 11 may be made of any desirable material such as wood or the like, and it can be alternately made from a corn cob if preferred by the manufacturer.

The one-piece member 11 is of generally cylindrical configuration that is slightly tapered toward one end as shown in the drawing, the device accordingly comprising a-generally cylindrical or conical side wall 13 bonded at its upper and lower edges 14 and 15, respectively, by a top wall 16 and bottom wall 17 of circular configuration, respectively. I

A top wall 16 is provided with a central opening 18 which communicates with a central chamber 19 extending downwardly within the interior of the member 11, thechamber 19 including a conical side wall 20 and a circular bottom wall 21 which is parallel to the bottom wall l7.

Within a side of the side wall 13 there is provided an opening 22 which communicates with the chamber 19 and near a lower end thereof, as shown in FIG. I. I

A brass instrument mouthpiece 12 is normally fitted into the opening22 so that the end of the mouthpiece extends into the chamber 19 when in an operative use. 7

In operative use, it is now evident that the practice buzzing barrel serves as a resonator chamber that ofl'ers the buzzing sound produced by the brass instrument mouthpiece and thus giving the instrument player the feeling and tendency of a sensation of blowing into the actual musical instrument; Thus the device serves as a calisthenic purpose.

What I now claim is:

1. In a brass instrument practice device, the combination of a one-piece member being attachable to a brass instrument member comprising a resonator device that buffers the buzzing sound produced by said brass instrument mouth,

piece, said one-piece member comprising a bowl configurated element of generally slightly tapered configuration. said onepiece member including a generally conical outer side wall. bounded at its opposite edges by a circular top wall and a bottorn wall, said top wall having concentrically a central opening which communicates with a central chamber, said centralchamber being comprised of a conically configurated side wall and a flat bottom wall which is parallel to said top and bottom wall of said one-piece member, a sidewardly extending opening being provided through a side of said side wall, said opening being adaptable for receiving one end of said brass instrument mouth piece therewithinso that said end of said brass instrument mouth piece extends into a lower portion of said chamber, said mouth piece protruding inwardly to almost a diametric center of said chamber, and said practice buzzing barrel being made of a corn cob.

i Q i 

1. In a brass instrument practice device, the combination of a one-piece member being attachable to a brass instrument mouthpiece of a brass music instrument, and said one-piece member comprising a resonator device that buffers the buzzing sound produced by said brass instrument mouth piece, said one-piece member comprising a bowl configurated element of generally slightly tapered configuration, said one-piece member including a generally conical outer side wall, bounded at its opposite edges by a circular top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall having concentrically a central opening which communicates with a central chamber, said central chamber being comprised of a conically configurated side wall and a flat bottom wall which is parallel to said top and bottom wall of said one-piece member, a sidewardly extending opening being provided through a side of said side wall, said opening being adaptable for receiving one end of said brass instrument mouth piece therewithin so that said end of said brass instrument mouth piece extends into a lower portion of said chamber, said mouth piece protruding inwardly to almost a diametric center of said chamber, and said practice buzzing barrel being made of a corn cob. 